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Come out to the National Portrait Gallery and enjoy performances from this year's group of teen ambassadors. Image courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery.

Friday, August 7: Portraits Alive! Tour and performances

A tour of highlights from the National Portrait Gallery’s collections, Portraits Alive! is a series of short dramatic monologues researched, written and acted by high school students participating in a summer internship program. The performance pieces correlate to images currently on display and expand on the biographical placards that typically accompany the artworks. Free. National Portrait Gallery, 2:15 PM. Portraits Alive! repeats August 11-14 at the same time and venue.

Saturday, August 8: Meet the Artist: Keith Secola

Meet musician Keith Secola whose unique blend of musical styles is sure to please your ears. Some of you may already know him for the tune NDN Kars, which currently stands as the most requested song on North American Native radio stations. Come listen to Secola talk about his music and his influences and hang around the American Indian Museum and listen to him give a performance as a part of the 2009 Indian Summer Showcase. Both Events Free. American Indian Museum. Talk with Keith Secola from 12:00-12:45 PM and the concert begins at 5:00 PM.

Sunday, August 9: Fergus Bordewich: Washington: The Making of the American Capital: Book Signing

Fergus Bordewich is a regular contributor to Smithsonian magazine and will be available to sign his book Washington: The Making of the American Capital. Free. American History Museum, 2:00-4:00 PM.

For more information on events and exhibitions at the Smithsonian museums, check our companion website, goSmithsonian.com, the official visitor’s guide to the Smithsonian.